Yuan Hong (Chinese: 袁宏; Wade–Giles: Yüan Hung, 328?–376?[a]), courtesy name Yanbo (彦伯), was a scholar, historian and politician from the Eastern Jin. He was born in Zhoukou, Henan, and served as an advisor to generals Xie Shang and Huan Wen on a number of military campaigns. He was also a descendant of Yuan Huan.[1]

While on one of the latter general's campaigns, Yuan was asked to compose an official document. While leaning against his horse, he managed to complete seven pages, which led to the chengyu yǐmǎkědài ().[2]

Yuan is best known for his literary works, especially the Annals of the Later Han,[3] which served as the basis for the more famous Book of Later Han by Fan Ye. An original collection of works by him, in thirty volumes, is no longer extant. Around twenty poems and essays have been preserved.

Politically, Yuan Hong was against Huan Wen usurping the throne. In 373, when Huan was gravely ill and craved to be given the Nine bestowments,[b] Yuan worked together with Xie An[c], Wang Tanzhi and Wang Biaozhi (王彪之) to delay the bestowment.[d][4] Huan died in August that year without receiving the bestowments.

Anecdotes

Yuan Hong was serving under Huan when he composed the Dong Zheng Fu (东征赋), which commemorated many northerners who came south to join the Eastern Jin court. However, the poem did not mention Huan's father Huan Yi. Yuan's friend, Fu Tao (伏滔), who was also under Huan, urged Yuan to include Huan Yi; Yuan merely smiled and did not reply. When Huan Wen knew of the omission, he was angry but due to Yuan's literary reputation, Huan did not want to question Yuan openly. One day, Huan Wen went on a boat trip and ordered Yuan to come along. Many who were on the boat trip were fearful for Yuan. After sailing several li, Huan then asked Yuan, "I heard that you composed the Dong Zheng Fu and praised many pioneers; why leave out my father?" Yuan replied, "I was thinking about how to properly address your father. Since I haven't reached a decision, I didn't dare to reveal what I have written." Huan, still suspicious that Yuan wasn't truthful, then asked, "What were you planning to write?" Yuan's reply moved Huan to tears.[5][e]

Notes

  1. ^ According to Yuan Hong's biography in Book of Jin, he died aged 49 (by East Asian reckoning) during the early part of the Taiyuan era (376-396) of Sima Yao's reign. By calculation, his birth year should be 328 or after.[6]
  2. ^ Being granted the nine bestowments was often seen as the prelude to usurpation.
  3. ^ Xie Shang's cousin
  4. ^ Due to his literary prowess and calligraphy, Yuan was assigned to draft the edict.
  5. ^ The Dong Zheng Fu also did not mention Tao Kan; armed with a blade, Tao Kan's son Tao Fan (childhood name Hunu)[7] confronted Yuan in a confined chamber over this. On the spot, Yuan gave Tao a satisfactory reply.[8]

References

  1. ^ (袁宏字彦伯，小字虎，陈郡人，魏郎中令焕六世孙也。) Xu Jin Yang Qiu
  2. ^ Tian Yuan Tan (2010). "Chapter One: Paths into Qu Writing". Songs of Contentment and Transgression. Harvard University Press. p. 33. ISBN 9780674056046.
  3. ^ (撰《后汉纪》三十卷及《竹林名士传》三卷、诗赋诔表等杂文凡三百首，传于世。) Jin Shu, vol.92
  4. ^ (初，温疾笃，讽朝廷求九锡，屡使人趣之。谢安、王坦之故缓其事，使袁宏具草。宏以示王彪之，彪之叹其文辞之美，因曰：“卿固大才，安可以此示人！”谢安见其草，辄改之，由是历旬不就。宏密谋于彪之，彪之曰：“闻彼病日增，亦当不复支久，自可更小迟回。”) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.103
  5. ^ (后为《东征赋》，赋末列称过江诸名德，而独不载桓彝。时伏滔先在温府，又与宏善，苦谏之。宏笑而不答。温知之甚忿，而惮宏一时文宗，不欲令人显问。后游青山饮归，命宏同载，众为之惧。行数里，问宏云：“闻君作《东征赋》，多称先贤，何故不及家君？”宏答曰：“尊公称谓非下官敢专，既未遑启，不敢显之耳。”温疑不实，乃曰：“君欲为何辞？”宏即答云：“风鉴散朗，或搜或引，身虽可亡，道不可陨，宣城之节，信义为允也。”温泫然而止。) Jin Shu, vol.92
  6. ^ (太元初，卒于东阳，时年四十九。) Jin Shu, vol. 92
  7. ^ (胡奴，陶範小字也。) Liu Xiaobiao's annotation in Shishuo Xinyu, vol.05
  8. ^ (宏赋又不及陶侃，侃子胡奴尝于曲室抽刃问宏曰：“家君勋迹如此，君赋云何相忽？”宏窘急，答曰：“我已盛述尊公，何乃言无？”因曰：“精金百汰，在割能断，功以济时，职思静乱，长沙之勋，为史所赞。”胡奴乃止。) Jin Shu, vol.92

See also